Gutter Maintenance Tips For Your Home
HOW TO MAINTAIN YOUR HOME’S GUTTERS
Keeping your home’s gutters in good working order can help prevent major repairs later on. How and when to maintain the gutters are common questions many homeowners ask, which is what we’ll discuss and more below. Keep reading for helpful tips in maintaining your home’s gutters properly.
WHEN TO CLEAN THE GUTTERS
You know it’s time to clean the gutters on your home when there’s been a significant buildup of dirt, leaves, twigs, etc. inside the gutters. It’s best to do this at the end of spring and the end of fall to ensure water can flow through and there is no extra weight that could pull the gutters away from the roof.
WHY CLEAN THE GUTTERS
Clogged gutters can not only pull away from the roof, but they can cause water damage in other areas of your house. The basement could flood, or foundation issues could arise. Also, you may find mold or mildew growth in and around your home because water is not directed away from the structure as it should be.
HOW TO CLEAN THE GUTTERS
Cleaning the gutters is easy with the right tools. Using a sturdy ladder, gloves, and a hose, manually remove any debris inside the gutters and then rinse what’s left down and out the drain spout. Depending on the layout of your roof, you may need to call in a professional to safely clean hard-to-reach gutters.
HOW TO KEEP GUTTERS FROM GETTING CLOGGED
Many homeowners install gutter guards to help minimize the amount of debris that falls into the gutters, so cleaning takes less time and is much easier. While gutter guards can be costly, they more than pay for themselves quickly as maintaining your gutters is much less of a hassle and you won’t have to worry about making major repairs later on.
DAMAGE CAUSED BY CLOGGED GUTTERS
Poorly maintained gutters can lead to a host of problems with your home. For example, when water isn’t directed away from your home, it will erode the soil around it and lead to foundation issues or flooding. A flooded basement is a perfect place for mold and mildew growth, which can be smelly and harmful to your health. Also, clogged gutters can erode the soil around driveways and sidewalks, which can cause them to shift and crack.
Lastly, clogged gutters can have standing water in them, which is the perfect breeding ground for mosquitos. Not only are mosquitoes annoying, but they also carry a wide range of diseases that can be harmful to humans and pets alike. The less water standing around your home, the less likely these tiny pests will be a problem.
So, if you’ve never given the gutters on your home a second thought, it’s about time you did. Grab your equipment and clean those gutters to prevent major repairs later on.
